The expertise of the Centre for Veterinary Vaccine Innovation and Manufacturing (CVIM) at The Pirbright Institute has been recognised in a Government White Paper aimed at ending world hunger.
CVIM is celebrating its first year as a scientifically independent centre for livestock virus research – a milestone recognised by UKRI to mark the Global Food Security Summit in London.
Backed by three major partners, CVIM aims to build a new pilot-scale Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility over the next five years.
Based at The Pirbright Institute, the Centre will leverage the unique facilities and national capabilities of Pirbright with oversight of scientific priorities provided by external experts.
The White Paper, ‘International development in a contested world: ending extreme poverty and tackling climate change,’ notes the power of engineering biology, combined with digital and machine learning, to transform agriculture, food, and health.
“This includes improving crop resilience and yields, reducing the environmental impact of agriculture, identifying new human vaccines, diagnostics and treatments, and protecting livestock from disease,” the paper states.
“Partners include the UK-based Centre for Veterinary Vaccine Innovation and Manufacturing, Liverpool’s Innovative Vector Control Consortium and the global Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations.”
Professor Bryan Charleston, FRS, Director of The Pirbright Institute, said: “The quest for global food security is gathering momentum as the world seeks solutions to grand societal challenges. De-risking projects for potential partners has allowed the Centre to establish collaborations with multinationals, small biotech companies and academics to develop vaccine platforms that can be applied to control a wide range of infectious diseases in multiple species.”
Funding from the BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council), FCDO (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will support CVIM over the next five years.
CVIM is dedicated to the improvement of animal health, food security and livelihoods through the development of novel, affordable veterinary vaccines targeted at Low- and- Middle- Income Countries. Partnering with the animal health industry, the Centre is translating science into suitable proofs-of-concept for the development of novel vaccine platform technologies.
To find out more about CVIM, visit https://www.pirbright.ac.uk/cvim or email info@cvim.ac.uk for more information.